Collection chamber for lint, dust and the like



Dec. 5, 1961 a. BPHQLTZCLAW 3,011,205

CQLLECTION CHAMBER FQR LINT, DUST AND THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Sum-10M COLLECTING UNI "F 1-50 GROVER BHoLTzcLAwATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 v s. B. HOLTZCLAW 3,011,205

COLLECTION CHAMBER FOR LINT, DUST AND THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GROVER B. Hou'z CLAW ATTORNEY 5 3,011,205 7 iCOLLECTION CHAMBER FOR LINT,

. DUST AND THE LIKE Grover B. Holtzclaw, Charlotte, N.C., assignor toParks- Cramer Company, Fitchburg, Mass, acorporation f Massachusetts IFiled July 8, 1959, Ser. No. 825,824 1 22 Claims. (Cl. 15-312) Thisinvention relates to pneumatic cleaning-systems for textile machineryand the like and, more especially, to an improved collection box orchamber for receiving and temporarily storing lint, dust and other lightmaterial blown thereinto by air-currents, the present invention beingparticularly adapted for use with traveling suction cleaners of a typedisclosed in copending US. application, Serial No. 759,797, filedSeptember 8, 1958 and entitled Traveling Suction Cleaning Apparatus, ofwhich this application is a continuation-in-part. Y

The traveling suction cleaner of said copending application comprisessuperposed intercommunicating suction and blower, casings. Thecasingsare mounted for movement along a trackway above rows of textilemachines, and the lower, -suction, casing is provided with oppositelyextending ductsfrom which flexible tubes depend. The

lower ends or nozzles ofthe flexible tubes are movable 3,011,205Patented Dec. 5, 1961 wardlythrough such screened wall or walls whensaid door is closed. I

It is another object of this invention to provide a collection chamberof the character described which is provided with means to furtherassist in removing lint from the inner surface of a screen or screensthereof by momentarily diverting outwardly some or all of the current of-air entering the inlet end of the collection chamber and causing saidair current to flow along a confined channel adjacent the outer surfaceof one or more screened walls ofthe chamber so the air flows inwardlythrough the More specifically, it is an object of this invention topro-vvide a collecting chamber of the character described which is providedwith deflector means, operatingin conjunction with the main door orclosure means, for diverting some or all of the air outwardly adjacentthe inlet end of the collecting chamber. A movable apron, preferably inthe form of a normally open channel, is moved to closed position as themain door is opened. In so doing, the apron forms asubstantiallyclosedchannel, externally of the in close proximity to thefloor which supports the machines for, sucking waste, such as lint,dus-tand other light material, into .the suction casing. -The waste isprojected from the suction easing into the blower casing and passesthrough the outlet thereof into a collection chamber. The chamber isprovided with a' discharge outlet which is normally closed by a movabledoor or closure member. At predetermined intervals, the discharge dooris opened so the current of air from the blower discharges theco-ntentsof the collection chamber into a suitable, preferably stationary,receptacle.

Since the. air from the blower must flow through and outwardly from thecollectionchamber while the waste is being entrapped within thecollection chamber and while the discharge outlet is closed, it isnecessary that one or more walls of the collection chamber,andpreferably also the door in the discharge outlet, be foraminated, orformed of a screen material through which the air may flow while lintand other light material filtered therefrom impinge against the inner;surface of the screen. Whenever the discharge outlet is opened, a'considerable amount of air'continues to flow. outwardly through thescreened wall or walls, with a consequent reduction in the pressure andvolume of air which blows collected waste outwardly through thedischarge outlet. Although most of the waste collected in the chamber isblown therefrom wheneverthe discharge outlet is opened, some collectedlint will adhere to the screened areas unless special means are employedto remove it. After substantial amounts of waste have been repeatedlycollected in the chamber and exhausted therefrom, the inner surface ofthe screen may become matted with lint to the extent that air willnotreadily flow therethrough. Unless cleaned manually or automatically, theentire suction cleaner soon becomes very ineffective.

It is therefore aniimportant object of this invention to provide meansfor automatically removing lint and the like from the inner face of theforaminated or screened wall or walls of a collection chamber of thecharacter described, each time the door of the discharge outlet thereofis opened. 1

It is another object of this invention to provide means forsubstantially preventing air from flowing outwardly through a screenedwall or walls of a collection chamber of the character described whenthe door of the discharge outlet is opened, and which will permit air tofiow outscreened wall, through w'hich the diverted air passes and isthus directed inwardly through the screened'wall for cleaning the same.

Although in its preferred embodiment, the present invention isparticularly devised for use with a traveling suction cleaner of theaforesaidjcharacter, the principles of the present invention are alsoapplicable for use with stationary vacuum type filter boxes of thegeneral type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,799,356, for example, andwhich are used in conjunctioniwith pneumatic clearing systems forspinning, roving and drawing frames.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description pro disposed adjacent a stationarywaste-receiving receptacle;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 withportions of the waste-receiving recep- 1 tacle broken away and showingthe traveling cleaner,

extends over textile machines; v

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 3-3' in FIG- URE 2 and showing the dischargedoor and channelforming apron in position for discharging Waste materialfrom the collection chamber; I

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 with the egress opening closedand the apron open;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the collection chamber,similar to'that shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 1, but showing thedischarge door in closed position; 1

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary isometric view looking down at the dischargeend of the collection chamber sub} stantially in the direction of thearrow 6 inFIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary isometricv-iew, partially K in section,looking upwardly'from the inside of the ingress end ofthe collectionchamber and showing the side of the means for actuating theair-diverting port door 72 opposite from that shown in FIGURE 5.

'Referring more specifically tothe drawings, the improved wastecollecting chamber 10, which may be also termed as a filter box, isshown'in association with a traveling cleaner of the type disclosed insaid copending application, Serial No. 759,797, to which reference ismade for a detailed description thereof. Generally, this travelingcleaner comprises an upper casing or blower 11 having a fan or impeller9 therein (FIGURE 2) which forces air to flow through an outlet portion12 of blower 11 and into the inlet end of the collector chamber 10embodying the present invention.

Blower 11 rests upon a suction casing 13, with which it communicates,and produces a suction current in casing 13. Branch ducts 14 extend fromopposite sides of, and communicate with, casing 13. Each duct 14 has theupper end of a flexible tube or sleeve 15 connected to a v 4 a Ascollection chamber 10 moves beyond receptacle 26, the abutment *42 movesout of engagement with control finger 4050 spring 37 returns door 33 toclosed position.

The parts heretofore described are substantially as disclosed in saidcopending. application, Serial No. 759,797 and it is with such orsimilar parts that the present embodiment of the invention isparticularly adapted to be associated. As heretofore stated, theprinciples of the present invention are readily adaptable to other typesof collection boxes, filter boXesor the like for collecting airbornelint,'dust and other waste material.

Referring to FIGURES 3 through 7, it Will be observed thatthe'collectionchamber or box 10 is in the form of downwardly projectingfree end thereof. The lower end the traveling cleaner moves. Casings 11,13 of the traveling cleaner are supported by a carriage having rollers21 thereon which ride upon a trackway 22 supported on posts 23, only oneof which is shown in FIGURE 1. Carriage 20 may be propelled alongtrackway 22 by means such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763,granted on August 20, 1935.

The egress or discharge end of collection chamber 16, opposite from theoutlet portion 12 of blower 11, is provided with a main hinged door orclosure member 25 which is momentarily opened each time the travelingcleaner moves adjacent the inlet end of a stationary receptacle broadlydesignated at 26. Receptacle 26 is preferably in the form of arectangular tube and its egress or inner end is communicativelyconnected to a duct 27 extending to a suitable waste collecting station36 shown schematically as a suction collecting unit in FIGURE 2.

In order to provide a maximum amount of negative pressure withinreceptacle 26, duct 27 and suction collecting unit 30 without using anunnecessarily large and expensive motor and blower equipment forcreating suction at station 30, the outer ends of'a pair of inwardlydiverging panels 31 are connected to the side walls 'of receptacle 26,adjacent its free open end, and the inner ends thereof terminate inspaced relationship to provide an ingress or waste-receiving opening 32within stationary waste receptacle 26. A closure means or door 33, whichis preferably made from sheet metal and has an arcuate outer surfacethereon, normally closes ingress opening 32, but is moved to openposition, as shown in FIGURE 2, as the traveling collection chamber 10moves into registration with the outer end of receptacle 26.

. Door 33is fixed to an arm 34 fixed on a shaft 35. Shaft 35 extendsupwardly through the upper wall of receptacle 26 and has'a bar 36 fixedthereon. One end of a tension spring 37, is connected to the inner endof bar 36 and the other end of tension spring 37 is suitably connectedto the upper Wall of receptacle 26. The outer end of bar 36 has one endof a control arm or finger 40 attached thereto which extends outwardlyand beyond the upper wall of receptacle 26.

Tension spring 37 normally tends to maintain bar 36 in alinement betweenpivot shaft 35 and the remote end of the spring 37. In so doing, spring37 normally maintains control arm 40 against a stop 41 projectingupwardly from the top wall of receptacle 26. Thus, spring 37 normallyurges door 33 to closed position. A further detailed description ofreceptacle 26 and associated elements is deemed unnecessary, since theyare clearly shown and describedin said copending application, Serial No;759,797.

It will be noted that collection chamber 10 is provided with an abutment42 thereon which projects upwardly and, with movement of the travelingcleaner past recept acle 26, abutment 42 engages control finger 4i andmoves the same in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 2 to thereby open andmaintain open the door 33 as collection chamber 10 moves past the openend of receptacle 26.

a substantially rectangular tubular body or duct, although it need notbe limited to this particular form. Collection chamber 10 comprises alower or bottom wall 50, a top or upper Wall 51 and spaced side walls52, 53 whose inner ends form an ingress opening and are suitably securedto and preferably surround outlet portion 12 of blower 11. The dischargeor'egress end of chamber 10 is provided with an opening 54 which isadaptedto be closed by main movable door or closure member 25. Door 25is hingedly or pivotally connected, as at 57,'to the free outer edge ofbottom wall 50.- Main door 25 is preferably foraminated or provided witha screened opening 60 so as to permit air to flowthrough door 25 whileretaining waste W, including lint, dust and other light material, withincollection chamber 16 (FIGURE 4).

One side of door 25 has a bracket 61 thereon to which one end of a linkor connecting rod 62 is pivotally connected, as at 63. Link 62 extendsinwardly and is conn ected to a shifting mechanism, broadly designatedat 64, supported by carria'geZG. Shiftingmechanism 64 may be of anydesired construction and is' shown as being of the type disclosed insaid copending application, Serial No. 759,797 Accordingly, a detaileddescription and illustration of shifting mechanism 64 is deemedunnecessary. It might be stated, however, that shifting mechanism 64includes a normally stationary but rotatable spider wheel 65 which isrotated a partial revolution as. collection chamber 10 moves intoregistration with receptacle 26, and another partial revolutionis'imparted thereto as collection chamber 10 moves away from receptacle2 6. Said movement is imparted to spider Wheel 65 by spaced abutments 66only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1, carried by trackway 22;

Through intervening connections fully disclosed in said copendingapplication, connecting rod 62 is moved in one direction with alternatesteps in rotation by spider wheel 65, and connecting rod 62 is moved inthe other or opposite directionwith intervening steps in rotation byspider wheel 65. Thus, it is apparent, by referring to FIGURES 1, 5 and6, that main door 25 is opened each time connecting rod62 movesoutwardly from the position of FIGURES 5 and 6 to that of FIGURE 1, anddoor 25 isclosed each time connecting rod 62 moves inwardly from theposition of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it is apparent that only a relatively smallamount of'waste W could'be received in' collection chamber 10 before thescreened opening 60 inend of collection chamber 10, air flows upwardlyand outwardly through screen 70. In so doing, lint and the like tend toadhere to and partially. clog the interstices in screen 70 so that,although a large portion of the waste W is discharged from collectionchamber ltl whenever door 25 is opened as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, inthe 1 absence of means for increasing the force of the air flow ingthrough chamber and opening 54 or, in the absence of means for cleaningscreen 70, the inner surface of foraminated wall or screen 70 would soonbecome seriously clogged with lint and other light material.

The problem of entirely removing lint from the chamber 10 is at leastpartiallyovercome by substantially closing screen 70 to the discharge ofair therethrough by means of a movable apron, hood or cover. 95, whichwill be later described, so as to prevent loss of air through screen 76when main door 25 occupies open position. While apron 95 insuresetficient flow ofthe air from blower 11 through the open dischargeopening 54, lint and other light material may, in some instances, stillbecome lodged against the inner surface of screen 70.

Now, since waste W is discharged from collection chamber 10 by the blastof air from blower 11, in order to assist in cleaning screen 70, Idivert a portion of the air from blower 11 outwardly of collectionchamber 10 and into a confined channel embodied in said apron 95, andthat air which is diverted outwardly is again caused to flow inwardlythrough the screen 70 to thereby blow lint and other light materialinwardly away from the inner surface of screen 70 and thence outwardlythrough discharge opening 54. To this end," upper wall 51 is providedwith a relatively small port or passage- Way 71 therein adjacent itsinner portion; thatis, inwardly of screened opening 70. Whenever door 25is closed, opening or port 71 is also closed by a port closure m'emberordoor 72 disposed Within collection chamber 10.

Port door 72 is hingedly or pivotally connected as at 73, to the loweror inner surface of upper'wall 51; Thus,

when port door 72 is open, as shown in FIGURE 3, it

also serves as a deflector to assist in diverting a portion of thecurrent of air from blower 11 upwardly or outwardly through port 71.Means to' open and close port door 72 are connected with main door 25.Although a direct mechanical connection may be provided'between doors25, 72, in this instance, the inner or lower surface of port door 72 isengaged by a cam 75 fixed on a shaft 76 (FIGURES 5 and 6). Shaft 76 isjournaled in side wall 52 and has a crank 77 fixed on its outer end.Crank 77 is connected, by an adjustable slot-and-pin connection 80, to ahead or clevis 79 adjustably secured to one end of an arm 81'of acomposite extensible or telescoping link broadly designated at 82.Adjustment of head 79 on arm 81 determines Whether doors 25, 72openfsimultaneously or the opening of port door 72 is delayed until door25 is substantially opened, as will be later described.

The outer end of arm 81 is loosely mounted in a tubular member 83 havinga slot 84 in its side wall in which a pin 85, projecting radially fromarm 81 is loosely positioned. The end of tubular member 83 remote fromarm 81 has an arm 86 attached thereto by a fitting 87 which also closesthe corresponding end of tubular member 83. The end of arm 86 remotefrom fitting 87, is pivotally connected to bracket 61 atpivot point 63.

Opposite ends of a compression spring 90, loosely p'ositioned withintubular member'83, bear against fitting 87 and against the correspondingend of armSl. It will be observed in FIGURE 5 that cam 75 bears againstport door 72 under pressure of spring 90 when main door 25 is closed. Asdoor 25 is opened, arm 86, fitting 87 and tubular member 83 move awayfrom arm 81 until the inner wall of slot 84 engages pin,85, whereuponcrank 77 and arm 75 move in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 5, and in acounterclockwise direction in FIGURE 7. v

Port door 72 is provided with a weight 74. Thus, when arm 75 moves inclockwise direction (FIGURE 5), door 72 is released to rotate by gravityto substantially the position of FIGURE 3 when main door 25 reaches openposition. provided to limit the angular opening of door 72.

In some instances, it may be desirable to divert all the air throughport 71 when screen 70 is to .be cleaned.

An adjustable stop, as at 88, maybe 7 FIGURE. 3.

6 This could be accomplished by removing stop 88 and increasing thelength of port door 72, or by locating shaft 76 outwardly of hinge 73 sothat port door 72, when in open position, will completely close chamber10 to the ingress of air, except through screen 70. The location of pin85 relative to the right-hand wall of slot 84 may be determined byadjustment of arm 86 and clevis 79 rela- -tive to tubular member 86 andarm 81, respectively, thereby determining the instant port door 72 isopened as main door- 25 is opened. Other means may beprovided fordelaying the opening of door-72 relative to door 25 without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

It would thus be possible to delay the opening of port 71, after door 25isopened, until time is allowed for the full volume of air to "ejectwaste W and then deflect some or all of the air from blower 11 throughport '71 to clean screen 70. 1

Apron 95 is generally'channel-shaped and is located adjacent wall 51 inorder to prevent air from flowing outwardly through screen 70. Moreimportantly, apron 95 causes air to flow in reverse direction, thatis,'inwardly through screen 70, whenever main door 25 is open, as in Tothis end, an upper wall 94 of apron 95 is normally spaced upwardly fromwall 51 and screen 70, as shown in FIGURE 4. Wall' 94 ofapron 95 has aninwardly curving wall portion 96 on its inner end which is hingedly orpivotally connected, as at 97, to top wall 51. Spaced side walls orflanges 100, 191 are connected to wall 94.

and its curved portion 96. Side flanges 1'00, 101- are spaced apart onlysufliciently to-permit free movement the respective flanges 190, 101. Inorder to assist in directing the collected waste W intoreceptacle261when main door 25 is open, as shown inFIGURES-l and 3,

' upper wall 94 and flanges 100, 101 of apron 95 extend outwardlybeyondthe egress end of collection chamberilt);

members or rollers 103,104 carried by a bar 105 suitably secured to maindoor 25 adjacent its free edge. Said lower edge portions of flanges 100,-101 are each preferably providedwith a race plate 106 thereon which isalso adapted to be engaged by rollers 103,104.

As main door 25 is moved from open to closed position, rollers 103, 194move into engagement with and ride against the lower edges of flanges100', 101 to raise apron 95, thus forming a channel through which airflows after it has passed. upwardly or outwardly through screen 70.Thus, as main door 25 is closed, .-auxiliary or port door 72 issimultaneously closed and apron 95 is raised to open position. T

On the other hand, whenever main door 25 ismoved to open position andport door 72 moves to open position therewith, rollers 103, 104 move outof engagement with flanges 100, 101, thus permitting apron 95 to movedownwardly, by gravity, to thereby close the outer end of the channelformed thereby. This causes the portion of air deflected through opening71 to return into collection chamber lfl through screen 70, thus blowingany lint or the like, which may have collected against'and adhered tothe inner surface of screen into chamber 10 to be exhausted throughdischarge opening 54.- Although apron 95 is shown as being movable toclosed position 95 moves to closed position, I have provided a resilientcushion member, or sealing member 11% which extends laterally atop wall51 adjacent the free end thereof. In

this instance, cushion member 110 is shown in the form.

of a doubled stripof pliable or resilient material, such as rubber,leather or the like, and its overlapped portions are suitably secured tothe upper surface of top wall 51, as by means of a strip of rigidmaterial 111 and rivets 1-12.

Apron or hood 95 is preferably made from a lightweight material such asthin sheet metal, plastic or the like. Thus, in order to. prevent apronfrom rocking about its pivot 97 or from being raised too high by airpressure when main door 25 is closed and waste W has restricted screenair outlet 60, at least one of the flanges 100, 101 may have a latch 115 thereon (FIGURE 5) above which the respective roller 1%, 104 moves asmain door 25 is moved to closed position. Latch 115 may be formedintegral with the respective race plate 11-66, as shown.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel collection chamber forseparating airborne waste material such as lint, dust and the like fromthe air and receiving and storingthe lint, etc., and wherein means areprovided for automatically closing a screened Wall or walls to theoutward flow of air from the chamber, and for causing air to flow in areverse direction through the screened wall or walls of the said chamberwhenever the discharge door is opened, to remove from the inner surfaceof the screened wall any lint, dust or other waste material which mayhave adhered thereto during the interval in which said material wasdeposited in the collection chamber by a movingcurrent of air.

In thedrawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic andjdescriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.-

I claim:

1. A collection chamber for a traveling pneumatic cleaning system, atrack on which said system is mounted for movement from place to place,said system having a blower provided with an air outlet, a filteradjacent the air flow from said outlet for receiving airborne lintagainst one side thereof while air passes through the same, a secondnormally closed outlet-for the air adjacent one side of said filter, andmeans for deflecting air from said blower outletoutwardly from saidsystem and for directing the latter air against the other side of saidfilter and throughv the same whenever said second outlet is open, fordislodging, and discharging through said second outlet, lint, dust andthe like which may have collected on said one side of said filter.

2. A collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system having a blowerprovided with an air outlet, a filter adjacent the air flow from saidoutlet for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while airpasses through the same, said chamber having an egress opening thereinadjacent said one side of said filter, a foraminated movable closuremeans for said opening for also receiving lint thereagainst while, attimes, permitting air to pass therethrough from the blower outlet, andmeans for directing air from the blower outlet outwardly from saidchamber and then against the opposite side of said filter and throughthe same when said closure means is moved to open position fordislodging, and discharging through said egress opening, lint, dust andthe like which may have collected on said one side of the filter whensaid closure means was closed.

3. A collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system having a blowerprovided with an air outlet, a filter adjacent the air flow from saidoutlet for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while airpasses through the same, said chamber having an egress opening thereinadjacent said one side of said filter, a movable screen normally closingsaidopening for collecting lint thereagainst as air flows therethroughfrom said blower outlet, andmeans for directing air from said bloweroutlet against the opposite side of said filter and through the samewhen said screen is moved to open position for dislodging, and blowingthrough said egress opening, lint, dust and the like which may havecollected on said one side of the filter when said screen Was closed.

4. In a collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system, having afilter for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while airpasses throughthe same, and said chamber having an opening for the airadjacent said filter; the combination of a deflector normally closingsaid opening-means for moving .said deflector away from said opening andinto the path of air entering said chamber, and means cooperating withopening of said deflector for closing said filter to the outward flow ofair therethrough while directing inwardly through said filter airpreviously diverted outwardly through said opening by said deflector.

5. In a pneumatic cleaning system for textile machinery including atraveling blower mounted for movement along a track abovetextilemachinery; the combination therewith of a collection chambercommunicatively connected to the outlet only of said blower, saidchamber having opposite end portions provided with respective ingressand egress openings therein for respectively receiving and dischargingairborne lint and other light material therethrough, said chamber alsohaving at least one other opening therein with a screen over said otheropening, said screen being located in oif-set relation to said ingrossand egress openings, normally closed movable closure means for saidegress opening. whereby air flows normally outwardly from said chamberthrough said screen leaving lint and the like entrapped within saidchamber, and means operatively connected to said closure means forforcing air to flow inwardly through said screen when said closuremeans, is moved to open position to thereby dislodge any lint, which mayhave adhered to the inner surface of said screen as lint is removed fromsaid chamber through said egress opening.

6. A collection chamber for use in a pneumatic cleaning system forreceiving and temporarily storing lint and other light material therein,said chamber having at least one wall thereof provided with a filtertherein for entrapping lint directed into said chamber while permittingair to pass outwardly therethrough, said chamber having an air inlettherein, for receiving airborne lint therethrough, said chamber alsohaving a discharge opening therein remote from said inlet,.doormeans'normally closing said discharge opening, means operableautomatically upon said door means being opened for diverting at least aportion of the air, entering the chamber through said inlet, outwardlyin advance of said filter relative to said discharge opening, and meansfor channeling the air so diverted inwardly through said filter todislodge lint from the inner surface of said filter whereby theentrapped lint and the lint so dislodged from the inner surface of thefilter is discharged through said opening.

7. In a collection box having an inlet for receiving air and lint andthe like borne by the air, said box also having a discharge openingremote from said inlet, at least one at least partiallyforaminated sidewall portion located between and to one side of the plane of said inletand said discharge opening for entrapping said lint as air flowsoutwardly through said wall portion, said side wall portion having aport therethrough adjacent said inlet, and movable door means for saiddischarge opening; the combination therewith of deflector means fordiverting outwardly through said port at least a portion of said airflowing into said box whenever said door means is opemmeans forchanneling said portion of air to and inwardly through said foraminatedWall portion for dislodging lint from the inner surface of saidforaminated wall portion as lint is discharged through said opening, andmeans to move said deflector means in register with said port forsubstantially closing the port when said door means is closed.

8. In a collection chamber box for a pneumatic traveling cleaner movablealong a trackway above a row of textile machines, said cleaner includinga blower, said chamber having an air inlet communicating with thedischarge side of said blower, a filter in said chamber for receivinglint and other waste against one side thereof 'while air passes throughthe same, and said chamber having an opening therein adjacent saidfilter, in combination, deflector means normally closing said opening,means for moving said deflector means away from said opening and intothe path of air entering said chamber from the outlet, and meanscooperating with said de flector means, when said deflector meansisopen, for

closing said filter to the outward flow of air therethrough whiledirecting inwardly through said filter air previously diverted outwardlythrough said opening by said deflector means. i I

9. In a collection chamber for a suction traveling cleaner movable alonga trackway above a row of textile machines, said cleaner comprising ablower provided with an outlet for discharging air and lint therefrom,said chamber having an inlet connected with the outlet of said blowerfor receiving lint and the like from said blower, said chamber alsohaving; an outlet opening opposite from said inlet, a door normallyclosing said outlet opening, means on said trackway for momentarilyopening said door with movement of said cleaner thereby, a filter on atleast one side of said chamber for receiving lint against the innersurface thereon while air passes through thesame, and said chamberhaving another opening in said side thereof located between said inletand said filter; in combination, deflector means normally closing saidother opening, means connected with said door for moving said deflectormeans away from said other opening and into the path of air enteringsaid chamber when said door is opened, and means cooperating with theopening of said deflector means for closing said filter to the outwardflow of air therethrough while directing inwardly through said filterair diverted outwardly through said other opening by said deflectormeans.

10. In a collection chamber for a suction traveling cleaner having ablower movable along a trackway above a row of textile machines, saidblower having an outlet for airborne lint picked up by said cleaner,said chamber comprising top, bottom and side walls and having an inletconnected with the outlet of said blower for receiving lint and the likefrom said blower, said chamber also having an outlet opening oppositefrom said inlet, a door normally closing said outlet opening, means onsaid trackway for opening and then closing said door, a filter in saidtop wall for receiving lint against its lower. surface while air passesthrough the same, and said top wall having another opening thereinlocated between said inlet and said filter; in combination, movabledeflector means within said chamber and normally closing said otheropening, means operable automatically as said door is opened for movingsaid deflector means away from said other opening and into the path ofair entering said chamber, and means movable with said door for closingsaid filter to the outward flow of air therethrough, when said door isopened, while directing inwardly through said filter air divertedoutwardly through said other opening by said deflector means.

11. In a structure according to claim 10 wherein said means for closingsaid filter and directing air inwardly therethrough comprises an apronhaving one end pivotally mounted on said top wall and overlying saidother opening and said filter, and means on said door engageable withsaid apron for raising and lowering the same to respectively move itsportion remote from said other opening out of and into engagement withsaid top wall, said 10 apron forming a normally'open channel above saidtop wall when raised'and the end of said channel remote from said otheropening being closed when the apron is lowered. f 1

12. In a traveling suction cleaner having a suction casing movable alonga track above a row of textile machines, at least one duct extendingfrom said casing and having a tube depending therefrom provided with anozzle on its lower end adapted to move adjacent the floorsupportingsaid machines for sucking waste into said suction casing, ablower movable with said casing for creat ing a suction current in saidcasing, said blower having an outlet portion, a collection boxcommunicating with said outlet portion andprovided with a normallyclosed discharge opening at its end remote from said blower, a normallyclosed door for said opening, means operable automatically formomentarily opening saiddoor at predetermined intervals, and saidcollection box having. a foraminated upper wall for passage of airoutwardly therethrough when said door is closed; the combinationtherewith of normally inactive deflector means adjacent said outletportion of the blower, means for activating said deflector means uponsaid door beingopened, said deflector means, when active, being operableto divert outwardly a portion of said current of air from said blower,and means for directing inwardly through said foraminated wall theportion of air so diverted for dislodging any lint adhering against theinner surface of said wall as lint is discharged from the collectionchamber through-said discharge opening. I

13. A collection chamber comprising a tubular body adapted to receiveinone of its ends air under pressure and lint and the like borne by theair, amoVablescreened door means for the other end of the body, saidbody having a wall provided with at least one screened opening wherebysaid lint is entrapped and stored within said chamber as air flowsoutwardly through said door means and through said screened opening, andmeans for substantially closing said screened opening to the outwardflow of air therethrough whenever said door means is opened to therebyminimize loss of air pressure while forcing the previously stored lintoutwardly through said other end of the body.

14. A structure according to claim 13, in which the means for closingthe screened opening comprises a movable apron carried by and locatedexteriorly of said body, means normally maintaining said apron, at leastin part, in sufficiently spaced relation to said body to permit air toflow outwardly through said screened opening while said door means isclosed, and said apron being movable toward said wall to substantiallyclose the screened opening to the outward flow of air therethrough whensaid door means is moved to open position.

15. A structure according to claim 14, in which said means normallymaintaining said apron in spaced relation to said body comprises meanscarried by the door means and being movable into and out of engagementwith said apron with respective closing and opening movements of saiddoor means.

16. A structure according to claim 14, wherein said wall has a porttherein located within the plane of said apron, a port door normallyclosing said port, means for opening said port door into the path of airentering said one end of the body when said screened door means occupiesopen position, and said apron, at least when closed, forming a channelinto which air is deflected through said port when the port door isopened whereby at least some of the air entering said chamber is causedto flow outwardly through said port and then inwardly through saidscreened opening to assist in dislodging lint from the inner surface ofthe screened opening.

17. A structure according to claim 16 wherein said means for openingsaid port door is responsive to the movement of said screened door meansto open position and includes means for closing said port door inresponse 11 to movement of said screened door means to closed position;

18. A structure according to claim 17 in which said means for openingsaid port door includes means delaying the opening of the port dooruntil said screened door means has moved to at least partially openposition.

19. In a traveling suction cleaner having a fan, a suction nozzleconnected to the fan and a collection chamber provided with a filter toentrap collected material against one side thereof; means for openingsaid chamber, and air deflecting means operable upon opening saidchamber and movable into the path of air from said fan to deflect airfrom said fan against the opposite side of said filter and through-thesame.

20. In combination with a traveling suction cleaner for textile millshaving a fan, a suction inlet, a collection chamber and a filter forentrapping collected material against oneside thereof as air from saidfan passes therethrough, means for periodically opening the collectionchamber for removing material therefrom, movable air deflecting meansmovable into the path of air from said fan for deflecting air from saidfan against the opposite side of said filter and through the same, andmeans connecting the air deflecting means and chamber opening means toactuate the air deflecting means upon opening of the collection chamber,to cause air from said fan to be deflected against said opposite side ofand through the filter.

21. An overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textilemills comprising a fan, a suction inlet for said fan, a collectionchamber, a filter in said collection chamber and against one side ofwhich material is collected as air from said fan passes through saidfilter, means for periodically opening the collection chamber duringtravel of the cleaner for emptying collected material therefrom, amovable air deflector, and means for moving the air deflector into thepath of air from the fan to deflect air from the fan against theopposite side of said filter and through the same upon opening of thechamber opening means. I I

22. An overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textilemills comprising a fan, a suction inlet for said fan, a collectionchamber, a filter in said collection chamher and against one side ofwhich material is collected as air from said fan passes through saidfilter, means for periodically opening the collection chamber duringtravel of the cleaner for emptying collected material therefrom, amovable air deflector, means for moving the air deflector into the pathof air from the fan to deflect air from the fan against the oppositeside of said filter and through the same upon opening of the chamberopening means, and means for moving the air deflector out of airdeflecting position upon closing of the chamber opening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,538,292 Lindsay May 19, 1925 1,892,751 Smith e Jan. 3, 1933 2,381,705Vokes Aug..7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,426 France u- June 8, 1931846,368 Germany Aug. 11, 1952 1,001,465 Germany Jan. 24, 1957 OTHERREFERENCES Parks-Cramer: Bulletin #415, published Sept. 14, -9.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,011,205 December 5, 1961 Grover. Ba Holtzclaw' It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above nfimbered patent requiring correctionand that the sa id Letters Patent should ,read as corrected below.

Column 9, line 16, for "outlet" read .inlet Signed and sealed this 17thday of April 1962;

XSEAL) ttest:

ESTON e. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

